FEMA Issued FIRM Map

FEMA Preliminary Flood Map

🆕 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 3 and the Maryland Department of the Environment have provided an update for the ongoing FEMA Risk Mapping Assessment and Planning (MAP) study for Montgomery County, MD and incorporated areas. The FEMA appeal period is scheduled to start in December of 2024. See the updated FEMA timeline

FEMA has issued new preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and a Flood Insurance Study of Montgomery County. These preliminary maps reflect the flood risk based on the latest high-quality data and have been released for public review and comment.

Montgomery County and the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville participate in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) so that residents are eligible to purchase flood insurance as financial protection against flood losses. Jurisdictions must adopt FIRMs to participate in the NFIP. 

Launch Online Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Appeals

Property owners are provided an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the preliminary flood hazard maps during a 90-day appeal period. The start of the appeal period is to be determined when FEMA issues its second legal classified ad in a local newspaper. The appeal period is scheduled to start in December of 2024. See the updated FEMA timeline for more information. You may continue to submit comments and appeals to Montgomery County. The County will hold these and forward appeals to FEMA as soon as the formal appeal period begins. If you feel there has been a map error, you can file an appeal or comment with Montgomery County and these will be forwarded to FEMA when the appeal period is open.

  • Appeals address concerns that the modeling or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically incorrect and must be accompanied by technical documentation, such as information provided on the FEMA Preliminary Map information, surveys, topographic maps, engineering studies, data, etc. Appeals should also demonstrate that better methodologies, assumptions, or data exist.
  • Comments address a perceived map error such as an incorrect street name, city limit boundary, etc. A detailed description of the issue should be submitted. Supporting documentation may not be required.

If you believe a structure on your property has been incorrectly mapped into a Special Hazard Flood Area (SFHA), please complete the SFHA Appeal Worksheet that includes instructions on obtaining the recommended documentation. Once you fill out and save the worksheet, include it with your appeal or comment submission.  To aid in this we have created an Appeal and Comment Form which provides a space to describe the appeal and upload supporting documentation.  Please upload all supporting documentation directly to this form, especially if you have past Letters of Determination from FEMA.

Following the resolution of the appeals and comments, FEMA will notify communities of the effective dates of the final maps.
 
 

Comments

If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information, such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary, they can submit a written comment. These comments should be submitted through the SFHA Appeal Worksheet.

Meetings and Outreach

Montgomery County, the City of Gaithersburg, and the City of Rockville provided  three information sessions for property owners and residents affected by the proposed map changes.

Virtual information session:

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 (View the presentation.)
This meeting was the only virtual session. It was hosted by Montgomery County at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission auditorium, located at 2425 Reedie Drive in Wheaton. Priority for the in-person session was given to those needing translation services and/or those without access to the internet. 

In-person information sessions were held:

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024
10–11:30 a.m.
Rockville Senior Center
1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville 
Hosted by the City of Rockville.

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024
5–6:30 p.m.
Casey Community Center
810 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
Hosted by the City of Gaithersburg. 

 

 

Contacts